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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

On the heels of a telefilm by Christian Duguray starring Shirley MacLaine as Coco Chanel after the War, two cinematographers are very busy into their own visions of how the eternal Mademoiselle of fashion built her fascinating life from her humble beginnings of being raised by seamstress nuns and her iconic career ~her indomitable perfumes forming a large part of her glory and occupying a place at every perfume lover's collection.

Coco Avant Chanel is the first one, set to screen on 22 April, and it stars Audrey Tautou along with Benoît Poelvoorde, Marie Gillain, Alessandro Nivola and Emmanuelle Devos. It is based on the book by Edmonde Charles-Roux's "L'irrégulière/mon itinéraire Chanel ". Directed by Anne Fontaine, the film examines the life and career of the renowned fashion designer in her formative years and early triumphs, leaving the darker Nazi collaboration and espionage charges which were at the nick of time alleviated with the help of Churchill and the Royal family as well the difficult return after years on the fashion scene left unsaid.

The focus of the biopic Coco avant Chanel as might be surmised by the title seems to be the modernisation of design and the liberation of women from the constrictions of La Belle Epoque mind-sets. I am proud to present you the trailer and preview pics.

On the other hand, the second film named Coco Chanel et Igor Stravinsky, is centered around a six-week period in which the renowened designer and the iconoclastic composer were believed to have had an affair.Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky is starring Greco-French actress and Chanel model (you should have seen her in the Allure Sensuelle ads) Anna Mouglalis with Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen as Stravinsky. The film will open in autumn 2009, but these photos are meant to give you a little amuse bouche!

It is, isn't it? They both look like they're given the proper attention to so I am salivating for both. Anna is a creature of her own, she has a rather tragic nuance to her expression from time to time in some films, although I believe Audrey to be the better actress.

thank you honey, you're very welcome on the pics. As soon as I saw the trailer, I couldn't resist posting them too. Let's hope they are both well made. It seems like much attention has been given at least to the visual part of the story.

thanks for stopping by! I think she might be too cute for Mademoiselle (who was anything but) but I guess I am relying on acting chops this time. Let's see what happens. Or perhaps they're aiming at showing Coco's softer side, how she had it rough in the beginning and make us "like" her? It all depends on the director's vision I guess.

you've got a point there: recognisability! (casting directors place importance to that obviously)I wasn't able to see the Shirley McLaine biopic being overseas (have't checked if it's rentable on DVD yet), but she's an experienced actress, having played myriads of roles, so I am sure she got it in her stride.

ohh, you just paid Mads a great compliment you know: if he was so atnipathetic as a villain in Casino Royal, then surely he was acting superbly! (he did IMO, very convincing, nothing over the top as is so easy to do with villains)I can well see the appeal of quite, shy types though ;-)

I took the liberty to remove the link to your commercial site, however, as comments are really meant to be reader-oriented here. You're very welcome to advertise with us, nevertheless, if you choose to, but it should be done in an above-board, open manner through a sponsored banner or link, so readers know it's a store.Thank you for your understanding!

Not to pull a shameless plug but speaking of this topic I just posted thoughts on the latest Chanel No. 5 campaign on my blog. I also changed the layout of the site so by all means check it out a bit. If you absolutely hate anything let me know.

Elena Vosnaki is executive editor of Fragrantica.gr, the leader in fragrance information in Greek, as well as a senior editor for the top english-speaking Fragrantica.com webzine.

Vosnaki has been Fragrance Expert on About.com and the Perfume History Curator of the Be Open Foundation exhibitionThe Garden of Wonders, A Journey in Scents in Milan. Her writing has been twice shortlisted in the FIFI Editorial Excellence Awards and is extensively quoted by authors. She is an evaluating expert on Osmoz.com.

Perfume Shrine is an award winning blog of 1000s of fragrance reviews (modern, niche, classic, vintage), articles on perfume history and aroma materials, comparisons of scents, interviews with perfumers & the fragrance industry, perfume shopping as well as scented travel memoirs, fine cuisine, tips on building a fragrance wardrobe and musings about the pleasures of the senses.